Tinubu orders review of 2026 Hajj fares as naira strengthens

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to immediately review the 2026 Hajj fares in light of the steady appreciation of the naira against the US dollar, a key factor influencing pilgrimage costs.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who conveyed the President’s directive during a meeting with NAHCON management and board members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, ordered that the revised fares be submitted within two days.

Shettima said the review became necessary to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims are not overburdened by outdated exchange rates that no longer reflect the current strength of the naira.

“This review has become necessary considering the continued appreciation of the naira against the dollar, a primary determinant for pilgrimage fares,” he said.

He called for synergy among national and state Hajj officials, including state governors, to harmonise and adopt a fair and affordable rate for the 2026 exercise.

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The Vice President also directed stakeholders to ensure timely payments and remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to avoid logistical delays and ensure a hitch-free Hajj operation.

Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, told journalists that the decision was taken to align Hajj costs with the current exchange rate and economic reforms initiated by the Tinubu administration.

“If pilgrims paid ₦8.5m to ₦8.6m based on the negative exchange rate last year, and the exchange rate has improved, then the changes should reflect in the current fares,” he explained.
“The commissions and all officers of NAHCON have been told to look at more realistic exchange rates. If we achieve what we envisage, there will be a significant reduction in the Hajj fares.”

Hadeija noted that the improving exchange rate was one of the positive outcomes of the government’s ongoing economic reforms, and urged NAHCON to ensure that pilgrims feel the direct benefit.

The Secretary of NAHCON, Dr Mustapha Mohammad, welcomed the President’s directive, saying it would help more Muslims fulfil their religious obligation.

“It is a welcome development. The lower the Hajj fare, the better for Muslim faithful intending to perform Hajj,” he said.
“As directed by the Vice President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to reduce it to the barest minimum so that every Muslim faithful will have the opportunity to perform this important pillar of Islam.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and Deputy Chairman of the Forum of the Chief Executives of 36 States and the FCT Pilgrims Boards, Alhaji Faruk Aliyu Yaro, expressed appreciation for the prompt intervention.

“We are very happy because the President and the Vice President have already intervened. We thank God for what they have said, which is expected to bring down the cost of Hajj fare. So, we are happy,” Yaro said.

In 2025, Nigerian pilgrims reportedly paid between ₦8.5 million and ₦8.6 million for the Hajj exercise, a sharp increase attributed to currency depreciation and global cost fluctuations.

With the naira now gaining strength against the dollar, stakeholders expect that the new pricing structure will make the 2026 Hajj more affordable and boost participation among intending pilgrims.